10-3-13 senior services benefits specialist says online exchanges good for seniors

The Fond du Lac County Senior Services benefits specialist says she believes a lot of local residents will save money on health insurance through the new online exchanges that are now in operation.  Its estimated that about 700,000 Wisconsin residents are eligible to shop for plans on the exchange.  That includes thousands on the BadgerCare Medicaid program whose coverage will end in January.  Fond du Lac County Senior Services benefits specialist Julie Hilbert says there’s another group of people who are just working for the insurance when one spouse may be eligible for Medicare and wanting to retire.  Hilbert says those individuals will greatly benefit from the new online marketplace.  "Absolutely, what's out there currently for those kind of folks is phenomenal as far as the amount of money that they would pay for that same type of insurance, if they meet the underwriting requirements, "  Hilbert told WFDL news.  "I assist people on an almost daily basis that cannot get insurance, that's terribly expensive or with a deductible so high that they pay everything out of pocket anyway.  This at least gives them the option of getting affordable insurance so they're not losing all of their money on health bills."  Hilbert says she has received calls from people who have questions about the new options and she will assist elderly people who need help with the new system.  Hilbert says in her opinion this is a welcome change, that there is relief for people, with health insurance they can afford.